Simon’s 55th Birthday Memoriam 6/11/2023 at Cerne Abbas

 

Cerne Abbas

Dreadzone - A Canterbury Tale (with video)

The Boscombe Surf Memorial

17 August 2010

Our friend Gary Knights who normally organises the Annual Surf Memorial Competition and has been integral in involving the families,Bournemouth Surfing Community and many other kind hearted individuals in fund raising funds for a Memorial Bench to be erected on Boscombe Pier, Dorset in memory of four Bournemouth Surfers: Simon Smith, Lewis Dunton, James Foy and and Pete Happe.

The Memorial Bench was officially opened on Tuesday 17 August 2010 with positive press coverage in both the Bournemouth Echo, local radio and BBC South Today TV.
The Bench includes 5 plaques, four with the names of my late son,Simon and his surfer friends who have tragically died over the past 5 years. It overlooks the new artificial Surf Reef where the guys spent many happy hours surfing in all weathers!

A heartfelt thanks to all those who through their hard work and commitment have made this dream a reality.

Simon Mark Anthony Smith (1968 - 2006)

http://www.magicseaweed.com/

Please log on to MagicSeaweed website to (Search: Simon Smith ) to find Si's surf photos in the Canaries / Hawaii / UK

In Memory of Simon

Steve Lynton surfs this wave for Simon

Sorted Surf Festival March 20th 2010

Once again many thanks to Gary Knights for rallying the families of Simon, Lewis, James and Pete and inviting us to attend the Surf Festival,in particular The Memorial Expression Session.Thanks to all the hard work and efforts of the local surfing community! Despite the weather it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the organisors and competitors.Surfers came from far and wide.Thanks also to Shaun Taylor and Sean Wade of Sorted Surf Shop. Once again you all came up trumps and put a lot of thought into the event.
Your loyalty to our sons is much appreciated by the families.
It was very touching for us to present the trophies to the winners and the photo board added a very personal touch and allowed people to see who the memorial was being run for.
The contest categories consisted of a Mens Open, Mens 35+, Ladies Open, and Juniors (under 18's). The contest also hosted the first leg of the British Bodyboarding Annual Championships. The Bodyboard competition to be held on the reef while the surf competitions were held on the beach next to Boscombe Pier.
A massive party was held in the evening at 'Urban Beach'.

One of many happy memories of Simon

I will never forget the time I took young Simon fishing at Hengistbury Head. He must have been no more than 12 years old at the time – and as chirpy as they come! Anyway, we took sandwiches and came prepared to spend the day casting our lines from the long jetty there. Late afternoon came and I had drawn a blank, but Simon had caught two ballan wrasse, which he returned to the water as they are not exactly gourmet items, being full of bones. We decided to call it a day and called in to see his grandparents, Jo and Dick. I told them how Simon had shown me up on the piscatorial front by catching two to my zilch! Much to my embarrassment Simon announced that in fact HE had caught nothing, but Uncle Chris had caught two fine fish. It was useless for me to protest. Afterwards I told Simon that he was an extremely modest young man for handing me the credit which was rightly his. Whereupon Simon, deadpan, but with a twinkle in his eye, came back with “Yes, Uncle Chris, but did you know that when it comes to modesty, I’m the very tops ?” Bless him!!

Chris Pelly

Cerne Abbas- 29 September 2008

Friends from Canada, September 2008

Surf memorial wave to Simon by his friend Iain- crafted from Canadian Douglas Fir!

Rainbow over Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo, June 2008

Shell memorial from Sulug Island, placed at Sabandar Bay, Borneo, Malaysia overlooking South China Sea.

These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend
Don't confront me with my failures, I had not forgotten them
( Jackson Browne -1973, " These Days " For Everyman )

Dillington Hall, Ilminster, Somerset

http://www.dillington.com/

Introduction to Buddhism weekend, 28 - 30 March 2008

Saturday, 29 March 2008: The St Petersburg String Quartet:

Tchaikovsky(1840-1893): String Quartet No 2 in F major Opus 22

Schubert (1797 1828): String Quartet "Death and the Maiden".

http://www.stpetersburgquartet.com

Surf Memorial Contest November 2007

A very big thank you to Gary Knights and Jess on behalf of Simon's family and friends for organising the Bench Boardmasters Memorial Contest 3 & 4th November 2007. All of our thoughts were especially with Lewis, James and Simon that wonderful still, sunny and warm Sunday. What loyal and faithful friends they had amongst the Bournemouth Surfing community.I'm sure many others had a hand in the organising especially at the After Party at PierPoint :Thank you all! Great food, music ( courtesy of guitarist Michael Ricketts) and company!

A privilege to meet up with the families of Lewis and James.

And to all Si's friends who were there for him in life and for his memorial - you lifted our spirits more than you will ever know!

http://www.michaelricketts.co.uk/

http://www.wessexsurfclub.co.uk/

A Different Place by Sue

A precious boy, an oh so special boy
You were loved so very much
You left us before your time
And now you are in a different place
Where nothing can harm you
Peace and serenity is yours and
The place where you left this earth
The trees still know you
And they bend with the wind
You will be part of their earth
And part of the trees you loved so much
Your unique energy is timeless
And will remain with the people who love you

http://www.explorecrete.com/

Just a poem, for Simon

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet,
And whither then? I cannot say.

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

From The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein

Mysonsi

Moni Kremastou Convent near Neapolis, N.E.Crete, April & September 2007 .
Candles burn bright for Si and his Uncle Simon.

http://www.counterpunch.org/

http://www.sabahtourism.com/ http://www.sabahtravelguide.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/foxinsox

http://www.freewebs.com/elati/addictedtokefalonia.htm

This blog is intended to be a living memorial for my dear son and to invite all friends and colleagues to share in a celebration of his life.

Simon loved all his friends and would want to know all their news so any updates, quotes, poems, one liners or whatever seems right for you.............could be just to log in and reflect for a moment in time.

A very big thank you to all who made donations to Surfers Against Sewage, in Simon's memory.

It was his preferred charity and SAS would like to reassure us that all monies raised will go straight into their campaign for effluent and toxic free waters for all, having been paid into the Hard Core Fund, which funds all SAS demos and campaign literature.

It is expected that our donations will be divided into helping SAS continue to lobby Northumbrian Water, concerning their plans to switch off UV disinfection in the North East, and an action, SAS have planned in Guernsey, to lobby the States (their government) on implementing a full sewage treatment policy.

SAS are almost one year on from where they finished off their vigil in Guernsey and are planning their next visit. The government is under pressure to provide improved treatment - and SAS think they will get secondary but with a bit of a nudge,they might get full treatment in!
A tribute to Si has now been included in the SAS February 2007 edition of "Pipeline" magazine.

Reflections of Si by his true and loyal friend, Nik:

"The most noticable characteristics that Si had was that he cared.
He cared about animals, so much that whilst in Theatre one day assisting with an operation, he berated the surgeon so much about the fact he went on fox hunts, that the surgeon slammed down his tray of instruments and insisted Si was removed from Theatre!

He cared about his music so much that he used to help put on free parties, using his equipment and his tunes. In fact he cared about his music so much he'd been known to play techno over the loudspeakers in Theatre during operations!

On a more serious note, he cared about all of his friends. He would aways help out his friends without a moment's hesitation and Si was someone you could rely on without question.

He cared about his family, and would always make time to go and visit them and share his exploits and progress in life.
Si cared passionately and deeply about his son Rowan and would always talk with great joy about the things they had done together, and the things they were planning on doing. Infact, it's safe to say that if anything, Si cared too much..... if that's possible.

As well as having a caring nature, Si was incredibly strong willed and would always achieve his goals, and would always complete what he set out to do. He loathed intolerance, injustice and oppression in any form, and would vigorously fight it wherever and whenever he came across it. He always encouraged people to stand up for their rights and for what they believed in, and inspired many of his friends, including myself, to realise their potential and live their dreams.

I think it's fair to say that this world was a better place with him IN it.

In remembering Si. I would ask you all to carry forward the three things Si lived his life by, the three rays of light, or the three Druid truths. These are light, love and wisdom.
Take them with you wherever you go, share them, live them, for this is what Si did.
He was my dearest friend, my brother, and I will not be alone in missing him sorely and deeply.
Blesssed be Simon.
See you on the merry meet again, my friend."

Festival Si

Tribe of Locust free partygoers welcome

including: TOL3 / Numanoidz



http://www.numanoidz.co.uk

Glastonbury













Si's family would like to give a special thanks to Ian, "E", a trusted and loyal friend to Simon.
You've given us great help and support these past months-especially as we didn't know a 303 from a 909!!

Daddy Page

Si's son Rowan Richard Smith

"Dear Son,

If you my son were to ask me my religion I would have to reply Nature. I find my God in the echo of the ocean and it is as treacherous as it is calm;the waxing and waning of the moon push and pull the tides of my blood as if I myself am connected to the sea. The force so powerful it shakes my spirit, making my heart quiver as I shed salty tears that I drink with my tongue: this is my baptism. It is in Nature where I hear the singing of my heart, the songs of the wind, the whisper of the breath of God. It is a quiet silence speaking louder than thunder, and when it calls to my spirit and I dwell in it's shelter, I hear the music of my soul, and it is a joyous melody sweeter than that of any church choir. It is the voice I am drawn to by some irresistible magical power, sounds that play upon my feelings where Soul and Nature converse together: this is my God."

...from Silent Thunder by Leslee Dru Browning